Morrowind continues Bethesda's award-winning Elder Scrolls role-playing series that began in 1994. The first two games built a following by offering players the freedom to do whatever they wanted to instead of venturing down a specific path. Released six years after the second chapter in the series, Morrowind serves as a gateway to an epic fantasy world featuring distinct races, political factions, monsters, and a diverse geography with variable weather.

Played primarily from a first-person perspective, the game begins on a ship sailing toward the mysterious island of Vvardenfell. The Emperor has, for reasons unknown, decided to free the lead character from imprisonment. With nothing but a man's name and a location to guide them, players are free to explore their surroundings, earn some money to purchase equipment, or converse with townsfolk, asking for advice or the latest rumor. The player's race, reputation, personality, and affiliation with various factions will determine how others respond.

Ten races are available for new characters, from the cat-like Kahjit and reptilian Argonians to more "traditional" orcs and elves. Each race offers distinct skill bonuses and special abilities. Nords are immune to frost, for example, while fleet-footed Redguards are resistant to poison and disease. Skills are broken down into three arts: combat, magic, and stealth, with certain classes gravitating toward a specific area. Developing these skills through combat, spell casting, or lock picking, to name but a few, will help increase the character's proficiency and overall experience.

Also included as a PC exclusive is The Elder Scrolls Construction Set, a flexible design tool used by players to modify and add to the existing world in a number of ways. Players can alter character and monster attributes or skills, create new dungeons or islands, design new weapon types, and more. Each file created by the Construction Set can be added or deleted from the game without disrupting the existing universe. Players can also download or swap files with each other to experience new adventures on continuous basis.